Disease In Focus: Hair Loss
Hair loss can affect just your scalp or your entire body. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical
conditions or medications. Anyone — men, women and children — can experience hair loss.Baldness
typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss
with age is the most common cause of baldness. Some people prefer to let their
baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with
hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the
treatments available to prevent further hair loss and to restore growth.
Before
pursuing hair loss treatment, talk with your doctor about the cause of the hair
loss and the best treatment options.
SYMPTOMS
Hair loss
can appear in many different ways, depending on what's causing it. It can come
on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body. Some
types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent.
Signs and symptoms of hair loss may
include:
Gradual
thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting
both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the
forehead in a line that resembles the letter M. Women typically retain the
hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.
Circular
or patchy bald spots. Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots.
This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also
occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, your skin may become itchy or
painful before the hair falls out.
Sudden
loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen.
Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after
gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and
not bald patches.
Full-body
hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for
cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually
grows back.
Patches of
scaling that spread over the scalp. This is a sign of ringworm. It may be
accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.
CAUSES
Most
people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. This usually doesn't cause
noticeable thinning of scalp hair because new hair is growing in at the same
time. Hair loss occurs when this cycle of hair growth and shedding is disrupted
or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.
The exact
cause of hair loss may not be fully understood, but it's usually related to one
or more of the following factors:
- Family history (heredity)
- Hormonal changes
- Medical conditions
- Medications
- Family history (heredity)
The most
common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern
baldness or female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in
predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning
hair in women.
Heredity
also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair, the rate of hair loss and
the extent of baldness. Pattern baldness is most common in men and can begin as
early as puberty. This type of hair loss may involve both hair thinning and
miniaturization (hair becomes soft, fine and short).
Hormonal changes and medical
conditions
A variety
of conditions can cause hair loss, including:
Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes and imbalances
can cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, childbirth or
the onset of menopause. Hormone levels are also affected by the thyroid gland,
so thyroid problems may cause hair loss.
Patchy hair loss. This type of nonscarring hair loss
is called alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh). It occurs when the
body's immune system attacks hair follicles — causing sudden hair loss that
leaves smooth, roundish bald patches on the skin.
Scalp infections. Infections, such as ringworm, can
invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to scaly patches and hair loss.
Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.
Other skin disorders. Diseases that cause scarring
alopecia may result in permanent loss at the scarred areas. These conditions
include lichen planus, some types of lupus and sarcoidosis.
Hair-pulling disorder. This condition, also called
trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh), causes people to have an irresistible
urge to pull out their hair, whether it's from the scalp, the eyebrows or other
areas of the body.
Medications: Hair loss can be caused by drugs
used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure and
birth control. Intake of too much vitamin A may cause hair loss as well.
Other causes of hair loss
Hair loss
can also result from:
Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the
same as it was before.
A trigger event. Many people experience a general
thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type
of hair loss is temporary. Examples of trigger events include sudden or
excessive weight loss, a high fever, surgery, or a death in the family.
Certain hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or
hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause
traction alopecia. Hot oil hair treatments and permanents can cause
inflammation of hair follicles that leads to hair loss. If scarring occurs,
hair loss could be permanent.
RISK FACTORS
A number
of factors can increase your risk of hair loss, including:
- Family history
- Age
- Poor nutrition
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and
lupus
- Stress
LIFESTYLE AND HOME REMEDIES
These tips
may help you avoid preventable types of hair loss:
- Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
- Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or
ponytails.
- Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling
your hair.
- Treat your hair gently when washing and brushing.
A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair.
Avoid
harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot oil treatments and
permanents.
ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE
If you are
otherwise well-nourished, taking nutritional supplements has not been shown to
be helpful.
Some studies
report that the patchy hair loss caused by alopecia areata may be helped by
lavender oil combined with oils from thyme, rosemary and cedar wood. Further
study is needed.
HERE IS THE REMEDY: Are You Going Bald? Restore Your Hair Now!